Tamper evident resealable packaging

ABSTRACT

A reclosable package has a first wall and a second wall opposite to the front wall. A first zipper profile including a first interlocking member is attached to the first wall and a second profile having a second interlocking member, engageable with the first interlocking member, is attached to the second wall. A slider is positioned on the profiles for movement along the profiles from side to side of the package. Package material is provided which must be removed or ruptured to permit operation of the slider or to provide access to the package contents. In either event, the steps needed to permit the initial access to the package contents leave clear evidence for a consumer that the package has been opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to reclosable packaging and inparticular to such packaging wherein indicia is provided to indicate thefirst opening of the package.

[0002] Zipper packaging is becoming more and more prevalent as theprimary packaging for foodstuffs and other consumer products. Suchpackages readily lend themselves to being opened by the consumer andreclosed after some portion of the package is removed, rendering theremainder of the package contents readily storable in the originalpackage. Unfortunately the zipper alone does not afford protectionagainst potential tampering with the package contents and hence the needhas arisen for manufacturers to provide on such zipper packaging tamperevidence to alert the consumer to a first opening of the package. Suchtamper evidence discourages potential tampering of the product prior tosale and alerts the consumer if the package has already been opened,regardless of whether the zipper is open or closed. The problem ofproviding a tamper evident zipper is exacerbated where the zipper is tobe provided with a slider. While a slider facilitates a consumer openingand reclosing the package and hence is desirable in some instances, theslider makes it difficult for the manufacturer to employ conventionaltechniques to render the package tamper evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In view of the above, it is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved zipper package construction whichrequires some permanent change of the package appearance to enable thefirst opening of the package by the purchaser of the package.

[0004] A further object is to provide such a package wherein the packageis “user friendly” in that the steps necessary for the initial openingof the package prior to the use of the zipper must be obvious orintuitive to the consumer.

[0005] A still further object is to provide a package that may be formedon conventional packaging equipment with little or no modification ofthe equipment required.

[0006] Still another object is to provide, in cases where the zipperpackaging includes a slider, a tamper evident feature that is compatiblewith the slider being present. Similarly, where the package contentsrequire hermetic sealing, it is desirable that the tamper evidentfeature also permit such hermetic sealing.

[0007] The above and other objects and advantages are attained inaccordance with the present invention by providing a reclosablepackaging having a first wall and a second wall opposite to the frontwall. A first zipper profile including a first interlocking member isattached to the first wall and a second profile having a secondinterlocking member, engageable with the first interlocking member, isattached to the second wall. A slider is positioned on the profiles formovement along the profiles from side to side of the package. The sliderserves to disengage the profile interlocking members when moved in thedirection of the closing end of the slider and to engage the profileinterlocking members when moved in the direction of the opening end ofthe slider.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention the slider is eithercontained within or blocked from movement along the profile interlockingmembers by package material which must be removed or ruptured to permitoperation of the slider or to provide access to the package contents. Ineither event, the steps needed to permit the initial access to thepackage contents leave clear evidence for a consumer that the packagehas been opened.

[0009] In a first embodiment of the invention, portions of the packagewalls extend over and about the slider and must be removed or rupturedto provide access to the slider. The portions may comprise extensions ofthe package wall material or may comprise portions of the zipperprofiles.

[0010] In a second embodiment, a web of material extends across thepackage below the zipper profiles' interlocking members. The web may beconnected to the package walls or to flanges of one or both of thezipper profiles.

[0011] In a third embodiment a header is added to the package enclosingthe profiles' interlocking members and the slider. For a consumer toobtain access to the slider the header must be removed or ruptured.

[0012] In a fourth embodiment flanges of one or both of the zipperprofiles are used to encapsulate the package contents, either above orbelow the profiles' interlocking members.

[0013] In a fifth embodiment the zipper slider is constrained frommovement along the profiles by a strip of material or a flap that mustbe removed before the slider can be moved from its initial closedposition to an open position.

[0014] In each of the above cases, the steps that must be taken beforethe initial opening of the package results in a physical altering of thesealed package which may readily be observed by a consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the accompanying drawings:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of apackage in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIGS. 2-6 are alternative fragmentary sectional views taken offFIG. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of apackage in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] FIGS. 8-14 are alternative fragmentary sectional views taken offFIG. 7 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

[0020]FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a modification of thesecond embodiment of a package in accordance with the present invention;

[0021]FIGS. 16 and 17 are alternative fragmentary sectional views takenoff FIG. 15 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

[0022]FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of apackage in accordance with the present invention;

[0023] FIGS. 19-23 are alternative fragmentary sectional views taken offFIG. 18 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

[0024]FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of a modification of the fifthembodiment of a package in accordance with the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken off FIG. 24 in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

[0026]FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of apackage in accordance with the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken off FIG. 26 in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

[0028]FIG. 28 is a front perspective view of a modification of thefourth embodiment of a package in accordance with the present invention;

[0029]FIGS. 29 and 30 are alternative fragmentary sectional views takenoff FIG. 28 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

[0030]FIG. 31 is a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of apackage in accordance with the present invention; and

[0031] FIGS. 32-34 are alternative fragmentary sectional views taken offFIG. 31 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Reference is now made to the drawings wherein similar elementsbear the same reference numerals throughout the several views. In FIGS.1-6 a first embodiment of the package 110 of the present invention isdepicted in several alternative configurations. The package 110 is inthe form of a package having a front wall 12 and a rear wall 14 that isopposite to the front wall. The package further has a bottom end 16, atop end 18 and sides 20,22. A zipper 24 is provided at the package top.A slider 26 is provided on the zipper to facilitate its opening andclosing. To this end, moving the zipper slider toward one side 22disengages the interlocking elements of the zipper profiles and movingthe slider toward the opposite side 20 brings the interlocking elementsof the zipper profiles into engagement.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2-6, it can be seen that the zipper 24consists of a first profile 28 and a second profile 30. Profile 28 isprovided with a first interlocking member 32 and profile 30 is providedwith a second interlocking member 34 that is engageable with the firstinterlocking element 32. Numerous configurations for the interlockingmembers 32, 34 are well known in the art. Profile 28 further includes aflange 36 that extends toward the interior of the package and profile 30includes a similar flange 38. In accordance with this first embodimentof the present invention each of the flanges 36, 38 is attached to itsassociated package wall 12,14 by a “hard” seal, 40, 42 that is a sealthat is not intended to be broken. Further, each of the package walls12, 14 includes a portion 44, 46 that extends past over the seal points40, 42. The portions 44, 46 extend over the zipper and are joined by aseal 48 so as to form a header that encloses the zipper 24 and slider26.

[0034] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the seal 48 of package 110 a is apeel seal that may readily be ruptured by a consumer to expose thezipper 24 and slider 26. To facilitate opening, the free edges of thewalls may extend beyond the peel seal. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, theseal 50 of package 110 b is a strip of peel seal material connected toboth portions 44 and 46. Whereas the peel seal 48 separates from one ofthe portions 44, and status on the other portion 46 as the package 110 ais initially opened, the peel strip 50 remains attached to each of theportions 44,46 and splits apart as the package 110 b is initiallyopened. Added protection for the contents 52 of the package 110 c may beobtained by joining the walls 12,14 together by a peel seal 54 below theflanges 36, 38 as shown in FIG. 4. In that way, even after the extendedwall portions 44 and 46 are separated and the zipper opened, thecontents of the package are protected until the seal 54 is broken. Sucha feature would be necessary where it is required that the packagecontents be hermetically sealed below the zipper. The package 110 d hasa “hard” seal 56 joining the extended wall portions 44 and 46. In thiscase, the header of package 110 d is provided with one or more lines ofperforations 58 which must be torn open by a consumer to obtain accessto the slider 26. In place of a line of perforations (or to facilitatetearing the perforations) one or more notches 60 may be provided at aside edge of the header to start a tear across the header.

[0035] The walls 12, 14 of the package 110 e of FIG. 6 terminatesubstantially at the hard seals 40, 42 joining the walls to flanges 36,38. In this embodiment the header is formed by extensions 62, 64 offlanges 36,38. The extensions 62, 64 may be joined by a peel seal, peelstrip or a hard seal as described above. If hard seal is used to jointhe flanges a line of perforations or a notch may be used to facilitateopening the header. In any event, the header must be opened beforeaccess can be had to the slider and zipper.

[0036] In FIGS. 7-17 a package 210 of a second embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted. The package 210 includes a front and rear wall,112 and 114, a bottom 116, top 118 and sides 120 and 122. A zipper 124extends across the package top 118 from side to side of the package. Aslider 126 is mounted on the zipper 124 for movement between a closedposition and an open position. The zipper is formed as the zipper of thefirst embodiment and hence need not be repeated. In accordance with thissecond embodiment the contents 152 of package 210 are protected fromtampering by a sealing strip in the form of a web of material thatextends across the package from side 120 to side 122 between the walls112, 114 below the zipper.

[0037] The package 210 a of FIG. 8 has a web 166 hard sealed at 168 towall 114 and secured to wall 112 by peel seal 170. After the slider 126is moved to initially open the package 210 a, the consumer presses onweb 166 to rupture the peel seal and provide access to the packagecontents. The package 210 b of FIG. 9 has two webs segments 166 a and166 b hard sealed respectively to walls 112 and 114. The free edges ofweb segments 166 a and 166 b are sealed to each other by peel seal 172.Peel seal 172 must be ruptured before access may be had to the packagecontents.

[0038] Package 210 c of FIG. 10 is similar to the package of FIG. 8except that the web is longitudinally folded to form a cusp directedtoward the package interior. This increases the internal force that thepeel seal 170 securing the web 166 to wall 112 can withstand. Thepackage 210 d of FIG. 11 is similar to package 210 b of FIG. 9 exceptthat one of the web segments 166 b is longitudinal folded and the peelseal 172 is offset from the fold. This also improves the internal forcethat the peel seal can withstand.

[0039] Various other sealing arrangements and configurations of the webmay be used to enhance the internal opening force resistance of the webpeel seal. The package 210 e of FIG. 12 has a web 166 bowed away fromthe product. One edge of web 166 is hard sealed to wall 114 and theopposite edge of web 166 is joined by a peel seal 172 to wall 112. Theweb 166 of package 210 f of FIG. 13 is loosely fan-folded toward andaway from the product. One edge of web 166 is hard sealed to wall 114and the opposite edge of web 166 is joined by a peel seal 172 to wall112. In both of these cases the peel seal must be ruptured to detach theweb 166 from wall 112 to provide access to the product. The package 210h of FIG. 16 has the edges of web 166 hard sealed at locations 168 towall 114 and flange 38 of zipper profile 30, which in turn is hardsealed to wall 114. A mid-section of web 166 is sealed to wall 112 bypeel seal 172. Similarly the package 210 j has the edges of web 166 hardsealed at two locations 168 to wall 114 and flange 38 of zipper profile30, is sealed to the end of web 186 which in turn is hard sealed to wall114. The other end of web 166 is hard sealed a second time to wall 114.A mid-section of web 166 is sealed to wall 112 by peel seal 172. Thepartial loop 178 between the wall hard seal and peel seal furtherimproves internal opening force resistance.

[0040] The web 166 of package 210 g of FIG. 14 has its edges hard sealedto both wall 112 and wall 114. A weakened line 174 extend longitudinallyalong the approximate center of web 166 web. The weakened line may be ascore line or a line of perforations. When the zipper is first opened bythe slider the consumer must rupture line 174 to gain initial access tothe package contents. If the package requires that the contents behermetically sealed, the line of perforations may be capped by a strip176.

[0041] In FIGS. 18-25 a package 310 of a third embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted in FIG. 18 wherein the zipper and slider 26 arecontained within a header 178 that is added to the package. The package310 includes a front and rear wall, 312 and 314, a bottom 316, top 318and sides 320 and 322. A zipper 324 extends across the package top 318from side to side of the package. A slider 326 is mounted on the zipper324 for movement between a closed position and an open position. Thezipper is formed as the zipper of the first embodiment and hence neednot be repeated. In accordance with this third embodiment the contents352 of package 310 are protected from tampering by the header 378 thatextends across the top of the package.

[0042] The header must be removed or ruptured to provide initial accessto the zipper.

[0043] In FIG. 19 a package is depicted wherein the header 178 comprisesa strip of material hard sealed to the front wall 312 and rear wall 314at seals 168 that run from side to side of the package. A weakened line180 extends along the strip. Line 180 may comprise a score line or lineof perforations. If the package 310 needs to be sealed below the headerthe perforations may be capped with a strip 182. In FIG. 20 a package310 b is depicted wherein the header is formed of two segments 178 a and178 b. One edge of segment 178 a is hard sealed to front wall 312 andone edge of segment 178 b is hard sealed to rear wall 314. The oppositeedges of the segments 178 a and 178 b are peel sealed to each other. InFIG. 21 a package 310 c is depicted wherein one edge of the header 178is hard sealed to wall 312 which in turn is sealed to flange 38 ofprofile 30 and the other edge is peel sealed at 172 to bag wall 314.

[0044] The bag 310 d depicted in FIG. 22 has one side of header 178 peelsealed to bag wall 312 and the opposite side of the header peel sealedto bag wall 314. On both sides a flap 184 of the header extends beyondthe peel seal 172 to provide a convenient finger grip for the consumerto facilitate removal of the header from the package. The package 310 edepicted in FIG. 23 has a header formed of two segments 178 a and 178 beach having one of their edges sealed to the bag walls 312 and 314,respectively by peel seals 172. The other edges of the header oppositeto the peel seals are hard sealed to each other. In each of the aboveembodiments the consumer is prevented from accessing the slider untilthe header is first removed. If the header is removed, it would bereadily apparent that the package has been rendered capable of beingopened.

[0045] In FIGS. 24 and 25 a modification of the package of the fifthembodiment is depicted wherein the package 310 f has a strip of material186 peel sealed to the tops of profiles 328 and 330. The strip 186 is ofsufficient thickness to prevent the slider 26 from being moved until thestrip 186 is removed. As shown in FIG. 24 the slider 26 is at theextreme closed end of the zipper and strip 186 is immediately adjacentto the slider on the opening side of the slider. Until strip 186 isremoved from the path of slider 326 the slider is prevented from movingto open package 310 f.

[0046] In FIGS. 26 and 27 a package 410 a of a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention is depicted in FIG. 26 wherein one profile flange 436is folded toward the interlocking members. The flange 436 is hard sealedto wall 412 at hard seal 440. An extension 190 of flange 436 extendsbeyond hard seal 440 to the opposite profile flange 438 and to itselfbelong the interlocking members. The extension 190 is hard sealed toprofile flange 438 and to itself at hard seals 168 thereby sealing offthe package contents. A first series of perforations 188 is provided onthe portion of extension 190 between the hard seals 168. A second seriesof perforations 189 is provided on the portion of extension 190 betweenthe hard seal 440 to wall 312 and the hard seal to flange 438. In orderto gain access to the package contents, both of the perforation linesmust be ruptured providing clear evidence of the initial opening of thepackage.

[0047] In FIGS. 28-30 a modification of the package of the fourthembodiment is depicted in FIG. 28 wherein the package 410 has oneprofile flange folded over the profiles' interlocking members ratherthan beneath the profiles' interlocking members. In FIG. 29 package 410b has flange 438 hard sealed to wall 414. Flange extension 189 extendsbeyond the hard seal 168 and over the tops of the profiles 428, 430. Apeel seal 172 secures the free edge of extension 189 to the outside ofpackage wall 412. The construction of package 410 c of FIG. 30 issimilar to that of package 410 b except that the peel 172 secures thefree edge of extension 189 to flange 436 of profile 430, above the hardseal securing profile 430 to bag wall 412. In both of these embodimentsthe flange extension 189 forms a header within which the slider isinitially contained. To open the package for the first time, theconsumer must remove the header by rupturing the peel seal.

[0048] In FIGS. 31-34 a package 510 of a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted in FIG. 31 wherein a flap is provided to hold theslider in a closed zipper position and prevent its movement to the openposition. If the seal holding the flap is broken, the slider is freed tomove to the open position. In the package 510 a of FIG. 32 the flap 190is secured by a hard seal 168 to bag wall 514 behind the closing end ofthe slider 526. The flap extends up and over the interlocked profilesand is secured to the profiles by a peel seal 172. An unsecured tab 192extends beyond the peel seal to the free end of flap 190. When the flapis in position it prevents the slider from moving in the openingdirection from the zipper fully closed position. A consumer may free theflap 190 from the profiles by pulling up on the tab 192 to break peelseal 172 and thereby render the slider free to be moved to the zipperopen position. However, doing so is readily apparent by virtue of theunsecured flap. The package 510 b of FIG. 33 has flap 190 secured bypeel seal 172 to flange 540 above the point at which the flange 540 issecured to package wall 512. Again the flap is positioned behind theclosing end of the slider so as to prevent the slider from moving fromthe initial zipper closed position. The package 510 c of FIG. 34 has afirst flap segment 190 a secured to bag wall 512 and a second flapsegment 190 b secured to bag wall 514 with each secured by hard seals168 and extending over the top of the interlocked profiles. The free endof flap segment 190 a is positioned on top of the free end of flapsegment 190 b and held in position peel seal 172. Again, the flap servesto prevent movement of slider 526 off its initial fully closed. If theflap segments are separated by a consumer pulling up on tab 192, whichextends from the free end of flap segment 190 a, the path of the slideris cleared so that the slider is then free to be moved.

[0049] Thus, in accordance with the above the several desired objectsand advantages of the present invention are effectively attained. Wileseveral embodiments of the present invention are depicted and describedherein further modifications may become apparent to those skilled in theart without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth inthe accompanying claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A reclosablepackage having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: afirst wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall; a first zipperprofile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion,said first flange portion being attached to said first wall along a lineextending substantially from side to side of said package; a secondzipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with saidfirst interlocking member and a second flange portion, said secondflange being attached to said second wall along a line extendingsubstantially from side to side of said package; and at least one ofsaid walls and flange portions including a wall segment beyond theattachment line of said wall to its associated flange portion, saidsegment extending over said profiles' interlocking members to afrangible connection with an opposite one of said walls.
 2. Thereclosable package in accordance with claim 1 further comprising aslider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side toside of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fullyclosed position, said at least one segment extending over said slider.3. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 2 wherein a firstsegment extends from said first wall; a second segment extends from saidsecond wall and said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joiningsaid first and second segments.
 4. The reclosable package in accordancewith claim 2 wherein a first segment extends from said first wall; asecond segment extends from said second wall and said frangibleconnection comprises a strip of peel seal, said strip having one surfaceattached to said first segment and an opposite surface attached to saidsecond segment.
 5. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 2wherein a first segment extends from said first wall; a second segmentextends from said second wall, said first and second segments beingsealed to one another along a finned section and said frangibleconnection comprises a line of perforations extending below said finnedsection.
 6. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 2 furthercomprising a notch cut extending below said finned section at one sideof said package in line with said line of perforations.
 7. Thereclosable package in accordance with claim 2 wherein a first segmentextends from said first profile flange; a second segment extends fromsaid second profile flange and said frangible connection comprises apeel seal joining said first and second segments.
 8. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a second peel sealbelow said interlocking members joining one of said first wall and firstflange portion to one of said second wall and second flange portion. 9.The reclosable package in accordance with claim 8 wherein said secondpeel seal joins said first and second walls.
 10. A reclosable packagehaving a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: a first walland a second wall opposite to said first wall; a first zipper profilehaving a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, saidfirst flange portion being attached to said first wall along a lineextending substantially from side to side of said package; a secondzipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with saidfirst interlocking member and a second flange portion, said secondflange being attached to said second wall along a line extendingsubstantially from side to side of said package; and a sealing stripwithin said package extending from side to side and from wall to wall ofthe package, said sealing strip being joined by a frangible connectionto at least one of said walls.
 11. The reclosable package in accordancewith claim 10 further comprising a slider disposed upon saidinterlocking members for movement from side to side of said packagebetween a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position, said atleast one segment extending over said slider.
 12. The reclosable packagein accordance with claim 11 wherein said sealing strip is hard sealed tosaid second wall; and said frangible connection comprises a peel sealjoining said sealing strip to said first wall.
 13. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 11 wherein said sealing strip includesa first portion joined to said first wall and a second portion joined tosaid second wall; and said frangible connection comprises a peel sealjoining said first portion to said second portion.
 14. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a longitudinalfold in said sealing strip, said fold being directed away from saidinterlocking members.
 15. The reclosable package in accordance withclaim 13 wherein one of said sealing strip portions includes alongitudinal fold, said fold being directed away from said interlockingmembers.
 16. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 12 whereinsaid seal strip is arched toward said interlocking members.
 17. Thereclosable package in accordance with claim 12 wherein said seal stripof material is loosely fan-folded longitudinally, said folds extendingtoward and away from said interlocking members.
 18. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 11 wherein said sealing strip is hardsealed to said first wall and hard sealed to said second wall; and saidfrangible connection comprises a line of perforations extendinglongitudinally along said sealing strip.
 19. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 18 further comprising a cap overlying said line ofperforations.
 20. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 18wherein said sealing strip is longitudinally arched toward saidinterlocking members.
 21. The reclosable package in accordance withclaim 12 wherein said sealing strip is longitudinally folded and saidpeel seal extends substantially along said fold; and further comprisinga hard seal joining said sealing strip to said second profile flange.22. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 21 furthercomprising an arch formed between said peel seal and said hard sealjoining said sealing strip to said second wall.
 23. A reclosable packagehaving a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: a first walland a second wall opposite to said first wall; a first zipper profilehaving a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, saidfirst flange portion being attached to said first wall along a lineextending substantially from side to side of said package; a secondzipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with saidfirst interlocking member and a second flange portion, said secondflange being attached to said second wall along a line extendingsubstantially from side to side of said package; a slider disposed uponsaid interlocking members for movement from side to side of said packagebetween a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position; and aheader secured to said package and containing said zipper profiles andslider, said header being joined by a frangible connection to at leastone of said walls or one of said profile flanges.
 24. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 23 wherein said header is connected bya first hard seal to said first wall, by a second hard seal to saidsecond wall and said frangible connection comprises a line ofperforations extending longitudinally along said header between saidfirst hard seal and said second hard seal.
 25. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 24 wherein said line of perforations is covered bya cap strip.
 26. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 23wherein said header comprises a first segment joined to said first wallby a first hard seal, a second segment joined to said second wall by asecond hard seal and said frangible connection comprises a peel sealjoining edges of said first and second segments respectively opposite tosaid first and second hard seals.
 27. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 23 wherein said frangible connection comprises apeel seal joining said header to one of said walls.
 28. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 27 wherein the header is joined to theother of said walls by a hard seal.
 29. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 27 wherein said header is also joined to the otherof said walls by a second peel seal.
 30. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 27 further comprising a flap extending betweensaid peel seal and a free edge of said header.
 31. The reclosablepackage in accordance with claim 29 further comprising a first flapextending between said peel seal and a first free edge of said headerand a second flap extending between said second peel seal and anopposite free edge of said header.
 32. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 23 wherein said header comprises a first segmentjoined to said first wall by a first peel seal, a second segment joinedto said second wall by a second peel, and a hard seal joining edges ofsaid first and second segments respectively opposite to said first andsecond peel seals.
 33. A reclosable package having a top, bottom, andsides, said package comprising: a first wall and a second wall oppositeto said first wall; a first zipper profile having a first interlockingmember and a first flange portion, said first flange portion beingattached to said first wall along a line extending substantially fromside to side of said package; a second zipper profile having a secondinterlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and asecond flange portion, said second flange being attached to said secondwall along a line extending substantially from side to side of saidpackage; a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movementfrom side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and azipper fully closed position; and a strip of film material peeled sealedto top ends of said first and second zipper profiles, said strip beingdisposed in the path of movement of said slider and preventing movementof said slider.
 34. A reclosable package having a top, bottom, andsides, said package comprising: a first wall and a second wall oppositeto said first wall; a first zipper profile having a first interlockingmember and a first flange portion, said first flange portion beingattached by a first hard seal to said first wall along a line extendingsubstantially from side to side of said package, a second zipper profilehaving a second interlocking member engageable with said firstinterlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flangebeing attached by a second hard seal to said second wall along a lineextending substantially from side to side of said package; said firstflange portion having an extension beyond said first hard seal; and afrangible connection between said extension and at least one of saidsecond wall and second flange portion.
 35. The reclosable package inaccordance with claim 34 further comprising a slider disposed upon saidinterlocking members for movement from side to side of said packagebetween a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position.
 36. Thereclosable package in accordance with claim 35 wherein said extension iswithin the package and sealed to said second flange along a third hardseal and sealed to said first flange along a fourth hard seal and saidfrangible connection comprises a first line of perforations in saidextension between said third hard seal and said fourth hard seal and asecond line of perforations in said extension between said first hardseal and said third hard seal.
 37. The reclosable package in accordancewith claim 35 wherein said extension extends over the top of the packageand is joined to said second wall by a peel seal forming said frangibleconnection.
 38. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 35wherein said extension extends over the top of the package and is joinedto said second flange portion by a peel seal forming said frangibleconnection.
 39. A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides,said package comprising: a first wall and a second wall opposite to saidfirst wall; a first zipper profile having a first interlocking memberand a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached tosaid first wall along a line extending substantially from side to sideof said package; a second zipper profile having a second interlockingmember engageable with said first interlocking member and a secondflange portion, said second flange being attached to said second wallalong a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from sideto side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fullyclosed position; and a flap extending from said second wall over the topof said package adjacent to said slider and preventing movement of saidslider, said flap being secured in position by a frangible connection.40. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 39 wherein said flapis attached to said second wall by a hard seal and to said first profileby a peel seal.
 41. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 40comprising an extension of said flap between said peel seal and a freeend of said flap.
 42. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 40wherein said peel seal attaches said flap to said first profile flange.43. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 42 comprising anextension of said flap between said peel seal and a free end of saidflap.
 44. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 39 whereinsaid flap includes a first segment attached to said first wall by a hardseal, a second segment attached to said second wall by a hard seal andsaid frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said first andsecond segments.
 45. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 3wherein free edges of said first and second segments extend beyond saidpeel seal.
 46. The reclosable package in accordance with claim 39wherein said slider is disposed at a fully closed end of said packageand said flap is positioned behind an opening end of said slider.